Put up your hands, everyone who’s fallen for a scam in the past 12 months?
They’re everywhere and if you’re not on your toes all the time it’s easy to get yourself caught.
That’s what happened to me early this year when a ‘known’ individual affirmed that the deal was genuine. And what was the deal? A whopping R350 000 to claim immediately.
On seeing this, I had already booked a trip overseas, taken my friends out for a slap-up meal, substantially upgraded my car, and done all the home repairs I had been putting on hold.
Of course, I woke up with a bump when the magical number of R4700 appeared as the amount required to release the big takeaway.
And what is the moral of the story? In the idiomatic sense, Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch.
We’ve all been there: picturing the triumphant moment, basking in the imagined glory of a victory that hasn’t yet happened. Whether it’s anticipating a job offer, planning a party before the RSVPs are in, or celebrating a sports team’s win before the final whistle blows, we sometimes fall prey to the temptation of premature celebration.
The optimistic oversupply
It’s human nature to be optimistic and hopeful. We crave positive outcomes and sometimes get carried away with the possibilities. This can lead to disappointment and even embarrassment when things don’t go as planned.
Sometimes, a launch into planning a ‘new life’ stems from overconfidence. We might underestimate the challenges involved or overestimate our own abilities. Other times – more often than not, in my case – it’s simply a case of wishful thinking overriding our better judgment.
Be careful of setting yourself up for big expectations that may have a different outcome. Huge disappointment is not always easy to deal with especially in relationships, career prospects and cancelled events.
The best advice is to peg your decision as close to the known outcome as possible.
- Business: Don’t assume a deal is closed until the contract is signed.
- Finance: Don’t spend money you haven’t yet received.
- Relationships: Don’t make assumptions about someone’s feelings or intentions.
- Projects: Don’t declare victory before the project is completed and successfully delivered.
Of course, life would be dull if we never took risks or acted spontaneously, but “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” is a valuable reminder to practice patience and manage expectations. It’s about focusing on the present and taking the necessary steps to achieve our goals, rather than getting carried away with imagined outcomes.